Reviews

With a revamped curriculum that was launched this fall, Stetson is offering a wider variety of classes than ever. This school is designed with the goal of every student graduating with a well-rounded education, and I wholeheartedly feel this at work in me. I came to Stetson with my major already decided, but even so, have taken classes ranging from Biblical Literature, to Nutrition, to Psychology.
Stetson is good at being the small school it is, and with that comes the benefit of a friendly and effective learning environment. Every class is taught by an actual professor (not assistant) who is readily accessible--most have complete open-door policies. The courses can be difficult, but that simply means there is more information being provided. If I ever have a tough time with the material, all I have to do is utilize one of the innumerous resources that are present here and waiting to be put to use.
In addition to academics, the Stetson campus is a learning environment in itself. I have learned more in the past few semesters about how to live, how to manage my time, who to surround myself with, and so much more. There are so many outlets on campus that provide information for students about eating well, living well, and learning well that are, in my opinion, not only irreplaceable, but also one of the characteristics of this institution that makes it so unique.

Stetson is not “school” to me; it is my home. It was hard at first to get used to the fact that my friends from high school were no longer by my side, but by getting plugged in on campus and getting to know the local community, I quickly adjusted. One thing about pricey private schools with good reputations (such as Stetson) is that the students aren’t just here to get a piece of paper with their name on it at the end of four years. Students are here to excel, to prove themselves, and to learn. The relationships I have built with my peers, professors, and teammates have made my stay here more than enjoyable. I have a long-term boyfriend at the University of Florida who occasionally (and somewhat jokingly) asks me when I’m going to transfer to UF, and although I’d love to be closer to him, I wouldn’t even consider the idea of leaving Stetson.

So yes, Stetson is small, classes are small, professors are awesome, campus life is great…but that all comes at a price (and a rather large one at that). Being private, Stetson does not receive state funds anywhere near the extent that public institutions do. Tuition is a bit higher than most Florida schools, but not quite as extreme as many northern schools, so at least there’s that. In addition, the leaders of this University truly seek students who desire to be here, so there is an incredible amount of financial aid provided. I worked hard in high school and was fortunate enough to have a large financial aid package, and I know many students who can say the same.
But that doesn’t mean everything is overpriced. The Study Abroad options here are outstanding, with all of one’s financial aid carrying over. Essentially, I could study here in DeLand, FL, or study overseas in Scotland for the same price, in my case, close to free. Who can complain about that, especially when many institutions have additional fees for these great opportunities?

As mentioned many times, Stetson University is a small school, population-wise, so it is important to get involved. Fortunately, there are more than plenty chances to do so, with over 100 active organizations. From campus ministries, to Greek life, to intramural sports, academic clubs, innumerous community service opportunities, there are so many things to get plugged into, and I highly recommend it. It will take some time to learn the right balance between student involvement and academics, but I do not think anyone should ever have to choose between one or the other. Get involved, and get to know the people around you; it’s a small campus, so you’ll see them a lot!
In addition to that, I advise getting to know the community. I love food, and a great way to learn about DeLand is to visit the many mom-and-pop local restaurants (not all at once, of course). Small businesses tend to suffer in economic times such as these-- they can use student support, and we can benefit from their services, so utilize them! DeLand, although small, is a nice kind of small, with a cute main street right next to campus. Visit it, learn it, love it.

I'm not going to lie, small schools are not for everyone. Stetson is perfect for a student who wants a personable and beautiful Florida campus. It is perfect for a student who wants to learn, who wants to get to know his/her professor on a personal level, and who wants to put in the work and see positive results inside the classroom and out.

Stetson has a teacher to student ratio of 11 to 1. That being the case, a remarkable amount of attention is given to each student, especially if they seek extra help themselves. Classes are challenging, but not impossible. There are also plenty of guest speakers that the school brings onto campus for lectures and presentations.

The biggest complaint that students have about Stetson, and DeLand in general, is that it is too quiet on the weekends. If you are really big into drinking and partying, Stetson may not be the school for you. However, I have always found that Stetson has plenty to offer for me. Every Friday night, the CSA puts on fun activities, there is always some place on campus to find free food, and it is easy to keep oneself busy with all the concerts, organizations, and sports teams on campus. As an added bonus, Stetson is about halfway between Orlando and Daytona Beach and it is not a long drive to either one.

The major drawback for me is the cost of attendance. It is not cheap. Even after scholarships and grants, I still have to take out loans each semester to pay for school. This is not the case for all students though. Many do receive enough financial aid to attend Stetson for free.

Join an on campus organization. If you do so, you will have plenty of friends and never be bored. Also, take advantage of the small class sizes. Classes can be challenging, but the professors are all very willing to help.

Pre-law and music students. Not great for people just looking for a party school.

Stetson definitely delivers on academics. A few programs are especially rigorous, like the music program. I personally am a biology major, and all of the professors I've had so far have been excellent teachers. They have also been very helpful and approachable, not only in terms of classes, but academic and career goals in the field. I've learned a lot about graduate programs, and applying for jobs. The science building has pretty good facilities, and the labs are great. The foreign language department is also very good. I'm taking German, and I am amazed at how much I've learned in just a year of study. Speaking of foreign languages, Stetson really pushes study abroad programs for its students. There are semester long programs and summer programs to several countries.

Stetson University has all the perks of being a small school. There are no huge crowds. Everyone will know your name, from your professors to the staff members. The people here are also really friendly. The quiet, suburb atmosphere might not be for you though if you want a huge party scene. Aside from frat parties, campus can be pretty quiet on weekends. However, student organizations do try to provide regular activities for the students such as free movie screenings, the annual paint party, comedians, and lots of other events. Stetson is also really close to Orlando and Daytona Beach. The campus is really beautiful with a lot of green space, and trees and flowers. Most of the dorms are okay. It really depends on which one you get. I live in Stetson's new pet dorms. Being able to bring my dog was a huge plus for me when picking a school. But the pet dorms are not the nicest ones. They are also pretty far from the heart of campus. But most of the other ones I have seen are nice, clean, and spacious. Right now the university is updating a lot of the buildings as well as doing some landscaping, so expect things to look even better in the future.

If there is anything bad to say about Stetson it would have to be the price. It is a lot more expensive than the big state schools like UF. In fact, it costs about as much as northern private universities. They do try to help their students with financial aid. I got a pretty generous financial aid package, but I still have had to take out loans to cover the costs. And with recent cuts to student aid at the state and federal level, Stetson's one flaw can really turn out to be a big one. I've had a couple friends who have had to drop out because they can't afford it anymore. Stetson is a really great school though, so you can make the argument that it is well worth the price.

The biggest tip is come visit the campus! There are campus tours practically all year round. When I was a prospective student, Stetson had several informational meetings near where I lived as well as at the university. These meetings always have alumni, staff, and students who will tell you everything you need to know to make your decision. The Stetson website is also pretty informative.

If you are a cerebral person, who isn't big on the party scene you will love Stetson. Also if you appreciate individual attention from your professors, and are willing to do some serious work this is the place for you. Be warned, Stetson is not the kind of college where you can not show up for class and no one will notice. Classes are small enough that everyone will notice, and chances are that your professor will see you around campus later that day. Serious students only! Also, if you are kind of quirky, you will probably find a lot of like minded people here. Last year we had an on campus 'zombie outbreak' if that gives you an idea about the campus culture. Stetson is also great for people who want to make a difference in their communities. They really push service here, and there are many volunteer opportunities.

Stetson University has given me a chance to finally love learning. Unlike in high school, I was in large classes of usually thirty-one students and being in Stetson and having classes with only twenty or fifteen students is refreshing. The small numbers also give the professors an easier time to really get to know their students. The professors there actually pay attention to you and want to see you succeed and thanks to some amazing professors I have managed to survive my freshman year and develop effective study habits. The school itself has so many different classes and majors that I found myself studying for a Biology test one moment, in another trying to get some friends to help me in a Sociology experiment involving eating popcorn out of an empty tampon box or talking to people with my back to them and finally I end my day with an argument about how much I’m in love with Albrecht Dürer and have my friends poke fun at me since he is dead. Don’t judge me! Stetson is not all fun and games you will have to work, but believe me it is worth it. I have never learned so much about sociology, biology, art history, history, math or any other subject until I came to Stetson. I'm even more surprised that I actually started a conversation about how my favorite hypothesis test was Anova in my statistic class. This is one of the many side effects that you may experience when in college: you develop an interest to something you used to hate.

Do not get me started on how much fun I'm having at Stetson because we may be here all day...or a few days. To the point, ever since I started to volunteer in high school I have grown to love volunteering to the point that it was not a chore, but a fun activity I was a part of. The community of Deland may be quiet in the party scene, but it has so many opportunities for the volunteering junkie. My experiences range from bathing dogs at New Horizons to occasionally lending a hand in our school's garden. The gardening was a big think for me since I have been known to have the black thumb of famine. Stetson is not only volunteering there are also a number of events going on. You just need to keep your ear to the ground, your eyes on the colorful posters that tell you when the event is and your mouth spreading the news to friends so they can have fun too. The organizations in charge of the fun are CSA and Nightcap; these two handle the fun on the weekends. On the weekdays you can count on the fraternities, sororities and clubs to have an event planned that is filled with fun. My favorite events this year was the snow fight (yes Nightcap made it snow for us.), the tie-dyeing, any event involving food and IMPACT (hosted by my lovely Bonners!). Even if you miss out on any event you can still have fun with friends. I can still remember the brutal game of Mario Kart that we all had and how we acted like 'Chickens Roaming the Prairie' during our game of Cranium at the coffee shop. Good times.

At this point Stetson sounds like it has to problems or issues. Wait, what is that? Oh look that's the backhand of reality. This is how I felt the first time I saw the tuition. I'm from a low middle class Hispanic family so we are not exactly sipping from golden goblets that are encrusted with diamonds and living la vida loca. Thankfully, Stetson knows that it costs a lot and tries everything to help you afford it. The Financial Aid Office is filled with amazing people that are willing to help you get through this wall and quell any worries you have. Also if you think they made a mistake in your bill, do not feel nervous about calling them. They are there to help and will fix any mistakes that they have made. Overall, Stetson is worth the cost.

When coming into Stetson take time to get yourself organized and never leave anything the last minute. Sure that test is a month away, but sooner or later your other professor will want an essay due in two weeks, then the other class wants a project due next week. Basically you will find yourself with no time to study if you leave everything last minute. So, for the sake of your sanity start everything early. Another important item that you WILL need is a planner. This will be your survival guide for the whole year, it keeps you organized and sane. Ultimately, do not forget to also have fun in college and socialize. One of the things that has kept me going was the support of my teachers, friends and my helpful study buddies.

Stetson is great for those who prefer small town over big city, nature-lovers and students who want to be part of our small Stetson community. For those who want to party, we do have fraternity parties, but if your expecting something like 'Animal House' then try another college that is party crazy.

A great curriculum with an excellent teaching staff.

Beautiful campus in sunny FL. Just minutes away from Orlando and the beaches. Friendly student body as well.

Quite an expensive school, but well worth it.

Apply early and apply for any scholarships you can find, especially the Bonner Scholars program.

Students who like a close-knit learning environment and an intimate relationship with fellow students and faculty.

Stetson university is an amazingly calm campus. It also has a comfy feel too it. I took a tour and fell in love with the place.

I believe that if you are looking for a cozy and calm school that will help you in any way possible, this is the school.

I have found that Stetson has challenging courses but also helps their students to achieve the best possible scores.

The dorms can be small, but they tend to be perfect for alone time and study time.

Stetson offers many meal plans and they are pretty reasonable.

Stetson has a pool that can be used. it also is located in down-town Deland so you can go to the old theatre or the many restaurants.

Stetson is an amazing university that allows the students to really get one on one with professors (really it isn't just a joke). The campus is beautiful, the food is good, and the people are kind (minus that 2% every school has). Definitely a good choice if you are looking for a small school.

Apply early! If you are a music student, go in and audition in person as soon as you can, and after you are accepted to the university. The sooner you audition, the greater chance you have of earning a good scholarship (same with any other school). Also, keep an umbrella on hand and do your work the day it is assigned to allow you to have more free time (it really works!).

It varies per major, but for the most part a lot of people are kept busy with work. It isn't as overwhelming as most will think, and there are plenty of tutoring and help sessions available. The teachers are able and willing to help as long as you pursue the help when you need it.

Minus the over sensitive fire alarms and occasionally overcrowded rooms, dorm life is pretty great. The RA's are available for help, you get to know people fairly quickly, and almost all of them are on campus. The one downside is that some commuter students are actually living in hotels (which provide breakfast for you, and have a transit bus to take you to and from campus) because of the lack of dorms available. Just another reason to get your housing form taken care of on time.

There are many options available on campus: there's the main dining hall that has an assortment of food in a buffet style, and is similar to other college dining halls; Johnny Rockets and Einstein Bros. Bagels are in what is known as the Hat Rack nearby, and just a short walk from the bookstore and mail boxes if you have to pick up something after lunch; then there is the ever necessary coffee shop that serves Starbucks coffee. There are also off-campus options that are nearby with a short drive or walk. Meal plans will definitely NOT leave you hungry.

If you are sporty, go to the Hollis Center and work out in the gym, swim in the pool, or play a game of basketball or ping pong to relax the stress away. Downtown is just a short walk from campus and offers places to eat and shop on a weekend. If you have a car, or know someone that does, you can take trips to Daytona Beach (a mere 50 minute drive) and enjoy many things they offer there.

It is a very expensive school, but they are aware of how expensive they are. The short time that I've been here there have been many chances to get free merchandise, sporting events, and even free coffee (perfect for midterms). This isn't the type of school that looks down on those that need financial aid (99% of the school is on it), but instead embraces those that were willing to come here and apply themselves.

One tradition is the birthday fountain tradition. If it is your birthday on campus you better watch out--you will be thrown in the fountain!

Most of the buildings on campus are very old, the oldest being DeLand Hall, which used to be the entirety of the university. All of them have their own stories that you will have to come here to learn.

There are options for everyone for nearly everything that you can think of.

They are always available and allow you to call them if you need a ride because your class is on the other side of campus and you have a broken leg, or if you are alone after a night class and don't feel comfortable going to your car/ dorm/ next class alone. They are here for us and do a wonderful job of keeping us safe.

This is a small private institution located in DeLand, Florida. It is a very well organized and fun school to attend. The academic standards are set very high and it is an all around great place to be.

Be prepared to write many papers and study really hard. Depending upon what professors you receive, you could have a lot more work in one class. Overall, all of the professors are very nice and it is a great environment to be in.

This is the Harvard of the South they say and after going through my freshmen year, I can conform that statement completely. There is no slacking off or getting an easy class. Every class you take is going to challenge you.

Living in the dorms was a great experience for me. I personally like living in the community bathrooms because you don't have to clean the bathrooms yourself. Living in the dorms aloud me to meet many new people and allowed all of us to hangout and study together while having lots of fun at the same time.

Stetson does an amazing job in food and dining. I am a morning person so I am going to say that the breakfast food is the best. You can get basically anything you can think of for breakfast and Friday mornings is biscuits and gravy day which is my favorite. Other than breakfast, lunch and dinner are also very good. They give you a very wide selection of things to chose from which is good so you don't get used to the same thing over and over again.

I am a football player at Stetson so for me, football is my fun. If I don;t have football, we will most likely travel over to Daytona for the day and go to the beach and enjoy our day over there. They do have a pool on campus so you can go to that as well. The Edmund's center is also a very entertaining place to go and have fun. They have a full weight-room, ping pong, basketball courts, pool table, etc. It is the social spot.

Stetson is a very expensive school to attend but they do their best to give you as much money as they can to help you out. Although it is very expensive, graduating from such a prestigious school will most likely land you a great job that will help pay for student loans you may have accumulated while attending school.

There is the Fountain located in the center of campus and although people do throw change into it, it is also where you take your friends at midnight of their birthday and throw them in. We did this many times this year so it has now become a tradition to be thrown into the fountain on your birthday.

If you are a student that needs lots of help and tutoring, Stetson is the place for you. You can get all of the tutoring and help you want because it is all included into your tuition. There are many computer labs with supplies and printer that you may also use at no charge because it is all included into your tuition.

There are so many extra curricular activities you can do while attending Stetson. Most people play in the club sports because it is the same as competing in a real game but it is club instead of NCAA. There are also lots of side clubs you can get involved in, you just have to contact the director of that club and you will be on your way to having a good time.

Although Stetson is a smaller private school, the Greek life on this campus is intense. They get involved in many social and community events helping out with whatever they can. They are also the life of the party. If you want to go out and enjoy yourself and have a good time after a long week of hard work then the FRATS is were it is at. They are very friendly and will allow almost everyone into there house to party and socialize.

The public safety at stetson are on top of everything. They are patrolling the school 24 hours a day to make sure everything is alright and everything is running smoothly. You can actually call them for a ride across school if you really want to and they have no problem with that. They will come to your dorm and rive you to wherever you want to go on campus. I have done that a few times and it is pretty nice. Overall they are very good.

Stetson is small but does BIG things for the community.
Stetson dares you to be significant; it's not just a stupid slogan.
Stetson offers you the freedom and support that no other school can.

Get your crazy streak out in your first semester or so, then hit the ground running. Once you find your major and where you belong you'll know and it'll be impossible to keep you away from your passions!

Hard. Not just hard, but stressful. But, you learn more than you could ever imagine. The work is worth it and you always have people to help you.

Okay, so I won't sugar-coat it. For the most part the dorms suck. There is mold and it can get nasty and there is not enough room for everyone, but Stetson is working to change it. They are building more dorms and redoing some of the old ones to be more eco-friendly and safer. Plus, they have special dorms like Wellness House (absolutely wonderful, lived there 1st semester,) pet dorms, and the really cool UVA apartments and Stetson COVE apartments.

For food allergy babies like I am, opt out of the meal plan. Do what ever it takes, because the cross-contamination is... frightful. If you aren't so sensitive the food isn't all that bad, but it isn't really healthy. There are SGA bills in the works to push the school toward greener food with more sustainability and healthier options.

Frats? Check. Clubs? Check. Pubs? Check.
But are those really fun? Nope, not in my opinion.
I love the area around Stetson U, because there are amazing forests and beaches. And there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer through groups like Circle K, Hatter Historical Hikers, and the monthly Into the Streets event. Plus there are always some really cool events put on by Hatter Productions (a board of students.)

Stetson is dang expensive, but they help out a lot! I received scholarships for grades and vocal performance. Make sure you check out all your options because even though Stetson seems out of reach, it is not. You can defiantly find money through cool programs like Cappex and other scholarship engines.

Tell people your birthday.... so they can through you in the fountain! And then y'all can get yelled at by P-safe! It's a grand ol' time. There are cool events all the time and there is always the ghost tours put on by the History Club, by the way, Stetson is totally haunted. Go into Elizabeth Hall with a recorder and some ghost knowledge from TV shows and you'll see. Go during a hurricane black out like my friends and I did our first semester, it'll help you to not sleep when you study for finals! And during finals they give out coffee and cookies in the library.

If you want a personalized education, this is the school for you. If you want to be able to say It's a-me! Mario! when your teacher Dr. Mario Rodriguez walks into class the first day and have the Professor be totally cool with it, this is the school for you. If you don't mind having a creepy mascot, this is the school for you. If you want to ride bikes for a class about ecology, this is definitively the school for you!

Clubs are super great and active! Best part is you can start any club you feel Stetson needs. This year I'm starting Hatter Historical Hikers and we are volunteering at parks, presenting for cultural credit at school, holding fundraising events, making recycled material into usable decorations, and going on trips to the Keys and St. Augustine. Plus, I'm involved with two awesome club sports, Stetson Sand Volleyball and Equestrian Club. Not only do these clubs do shows and play in tournaments, but they build a network of care for their members. There is always something going on.

Greek Life is totally different than most schools. Because we are so small there is very little clique-ish activity and being a non-Greek isn't a bad thing either. I'm not exactly your typical Greek either. I'm kinda lame and not at all a sorority girl, but I hold myself up to a high standard of academia. I'm not easy or rude and I don't have a lot of money. It's totally different than what you'd expect. I could tell you that all I want, but you just have to see for yourself.

P-Safe is safe! But very chill, so if you aren't making a lot of noise or endangering others and yourself they don't rag on you. They drive around with their cool golf carts and offer students rides, even if they are intoxicated. There are loads of emergency poles and I have never felt endangered, on-campus. Off campus is a different story. Some areas are... sketchy. Just be smart and don't travel alone at night. I've never felt really worried, but just a bit nervous so it's not that bad.

Ask anyone, no matter what they think about Stetson, they cannot deny the academics. I learned a lot in my four years at Stetson, and I truly feel that they prepared me for the future, graduate school, careers and all.

Stetson was home for me, I loved it. People sometimes refer to it as a suitcase campus, meaning people come during the week for classes and leave on the weekends, but I didn't find that to be true. Sure, it's a quieter, small school in a quiet, small town, but if you meet the right people there's ALWAYS something going on. Plus, with the addition of Football to Stetson and the recent renovation of the campus, I saw in my last year that the student body got a lot more active. I expect to see it get even better in the next few years.

I'll cut to the chase, Stetson is expensive. But if you want a cheap school, your education and environment won't be the same as a Stetson student's. The great thing about Stetson is that its small size allows classes to be small - I never had a class over 40 students, for example, whereas my sister who went to the University of Central Florida had classes over 100 people that she couldn't even attend because the classroom was full. I was able to meet my professors virtually whenever I wanted, talk with them, even have meals with them. It's expensive, but if you want the private-school level academics mixed with a comfortable homey atmosphere where you can talk to advisors and professors every day, it's worth every cent.

If you plan on going to Stetson, just be prepared for rigorous academics mixed with a casual, small town atmosphere. Don't expect to party every night, but there's always something going on during the weekend. Just be prepared to put in the effort for your education, and have fun with the rest.

People who are academic/class oriented, and want a more one-on-one personal feel with both your professors and classmates. Those who want a rigorous education and a comfortable atmosphere that feels like home. Students who don't want to go to a big school in a big city and party all the time.